Don’t Let Go

9. Tyler

9

Tyler

I went through the motions with Sofia and her sons when they came to collect me at one o’clock. I didn’t make a scene when packing my clothes and the other things I needed. Sofia assured me the house was mine and nothing would happen to it. I just couldn’t live there alone since I was still a minor. When was the law ever on anyone’s side?

The Giordano family seemed nice enough. I could see how my mom and Sofia were friends. They both had that sweet nurturing side, like you could tell them anything, and they would never lash out if you made a mistake.

After emptying my suitcases and putting away my clothes, I felt like the pit in my stomach grew two sizes. I lied to Iris last night. The words escaped me. How would I tell her a woman I don’t remember was my guardian and I need to move across town? That I had to live in South Phoenix of all places? This was the bottom of the bottom. This was the part of town always on the news. The place people avoided when the sun set and I had to live there.

I sat on my new bed, but I couldn’t stay still. My legs were restless. My entire body was. There had to be an answer to all this. First things first, I needed to tell Iris what happened and maybe Quincy too. He could share the awful news with the team.

I kicked my suitcases under the bed and grabbed my keys. As soon as my hand touched the handrail to go down the stairs, Rory stood in her doorway. “What’s up?”

“Forgot something. I’ll be back soon,” I said over my shoulder, not meeting her eyes. The siren in her probably could see right through my lie.

“Dinner’s at six,” she replied sharply.

I nodded and kept going. Voices came from the kitchen, but I quickly slipped out the front door and jogged to my car before anyone else realized I left. The engine purred, and it took a great deal of self-control to not peel out on the driveway.

God, I’d give anything to leave that two-story house in the rearview mirror forever.

When I returned home, I wandered into my father’s office and sat in his leather chair on wheels. I flipped through the calendar on his desk and found he’d penciled in the fishing trip we talked about for next month. Out of nowhere, tears prickled my eyes. He did want to make more time for us, and then he died.

A surge of anger pulsed through me. I shoved all the contents on top of his desk onto the floor.

The need to destroy nearly consumed me. I took a cold shower and collapsed on my bed, dug my fingers into my hair, and screamed.

When did God turn on me? What did I do to Him?

I sent a text to Iris and Quincy asking them to come over ASAP. They replied within seconds, both saying they were on their way.

I forced myself to my feet and went to the bathroom to splash cool water on my face. “You can do this. Just shatter their lives too.” At least they didn’t have to be uprooted.

The doorbell rang. I found Iris standing there with a shy smile on her purple lips. She twisted her braid around her fingers. I had to take a moment to appreciate the low-cut almost see-through white dress she had on. “I know you’re all alone now, but I can’t do house calls all the time. I’m no cheap trick.”

I moved to allow her to step inside and shut the door. “I’d never think of you as cheap, babe.” I squeezed the back of my neck. “I didn’t text you for a quickie. I need to tell you something.”

She lifted a perfectly shaped eyebrow. Her makeup was flawless as if she had gone to get it professionally done. Underneath that white dress was an ivory-laced bra. All I wanted to do was peel that dress off, kiss her lips trailing down her neck, and slip her bra strap off her beautifully toned shoulder.

“Tyler, what do you need to tell me?” Iris had her hands on her hips. That wasn’t the first time she asked—I had zoned out.

“Well, you see—”

The doorbell rang again. I gave her a nervous grin and opened the door. Quincy bounced in, slapping me on the shoulder. “Hey man, you made it sound urgent. What’s…” He stopped talking and stared at Iris wide-eyed.

Iris glared at Quincy, daring him to look anywhere else besides her eyes.

I walked around Quincy to grab a blanket on the back of the couch. I handed it to Iris. She slid it on over her shoulders and sat on the rocking chair.

“I have something to tell you both.”

Quincy sat on the arm of the couch. “Out with it. You know I don’t like surprises or long pauses. They make me itch.” He scratched at his arm as if he was breaking out in hives.

I paced the floor, looking at my shoes. “I’ll just say it. I gotta leave Lincoln High.”

Quincy fell on the floor. Iris held her chest like she was about to faint.

“What?” Quincy asked as he lay sprawled out on the floor.

I ran a hand through my hair and sighed. “It’s a long story. Since I’m still a minor, I need a guardian. Legal jargon aside, my mom has a friend in South Phoenix and I guess she was appointed my guardian a long time ago in the event something happened to my parents.”

Iris shrugged off the blanket and stood up, taking hold of both my hands. “I don’t understand. You’re almost eighteen. Can’t they oversee that?”

Quincy got back on his feet, rubbing his lower back. “Dude, we can’t lose you. What about the playoffs? What about the scouts?” His eyes are too wide.

I ran my hand across my jaw. “I know. It’s bullshit. According to my Uncle Morgan, it’s all set in stone against my will. They want me to go to South Ridge High.”

Iris wrapped her arms around my torso and sobbed, “I don’t want to lose you.”

“You won’t.” I snaked my arms around her. “I’ll just… be a little further than usual.”

Quincy flared his nostrils. “We need to fight this.” He pounded his fist into the palm of his other hand. “Can’t a lawyer help?”

I rested my chin on the top of Iris’s head. “I could try that but it would take weeks or months to get anywhere. There’s no point with only a few games left.”

Iris slid out of my embrace and sat in the chair, draping one leg over the other. She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, smearing her makeup. “This can’t be. You’re our best player.” She sniffed, fiddling with the kitty necklace around her throat. “And I love you.” Her voice broke.

I dropped to my knees and wedged myself between Iris’s legs. “I love you too. We’ll figure something out.”

Quincy jumped on the couch throwing a pillow over his face. “We’re doomed,” he mumbled through the pillow.

Iris stared past me to avoid my searching gaze. I ran my thumb over her knuckles. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say,” I grumbled, hanging my head.

Quincy sat up, throwing a second pillow at me. “Dude, this sucks.”

I caught the pillow and stood, focusing on fluffing the pillow to avoid seeing the defeat on my best friend’s face. “I know.”

Iris stood on shaky heels. “I gotta go. This is too much to wrap my mind around.”

I walked her to the door. “I love you. We’ll figure this out.”

She kissed my cheek. “I hope so.”

Quincy and I pounded fists. “Dude, we gotta fix this somehow. Who is going to help me pass chemistry now?”

I hit him upside the head. “Selfish much?” I laughed.

He shrugged. “It’s the truth.”

“We’ll talk later once I know more.”

He nodded. “This has been one hell of a week.”

“Crazy how much life changes in seven days, huh?”

I watched Quincy and Iris drive away. After a few moments, I locked the front door and slid into my car to return to where I'd call home indefinitely.

Music blasted from the speakers as I drove down the highway. I barely remembered what exit to get off at and hell if I knew what street the Giordanos lived on.

South Phoenix was known for its graffiti-covered walls. A gang turf war in paint. A group of four guys smoking joints gave me a nasty look. Shit. A Rolls-Royce in this hood was toast.

I drove around blind for half an hour. One reason was pride, and the other was I didn’t have anyone’s number saved in my phone.

All the houses were one story with chipped paint and exposed brick. Teens played basketball on bare courts, and kids drew pictures on the sidewalk in chalk. I finally turned down a street with nicer houses. Their yards were a shade greener, and some houses were two-story. This section of the neighborhood was the historic district, meaning the city took better care and the houses were under better regulation.

The two-story house with blue paint and a faded red door drew my attention. There was the cherry red Charger I was surprised to see in the driveway.

Lucky me, I found my way home.

As I attempted to sneak back into my room without being noticed, I came nose-to-nose with Rory. Her full lips were pink and looked so soft. All her dark hair was down, covering one of those hypnotizing eyes. Her exposed jade-colored eye blazed into me. I felt the hairs rise on my neck. Was this the feeling people had when they looked down the barrel of a gun?

“You find whatever you went back for?” Her voice was soft like velvet, but her words were sharp like the tip of a knife.

I shrugged. “Couldn’t find it. Go figure.”

She tilted her head, studying me. “Dinner is in ten. I suggest you clean up.” With that, she went downstairs.

What was wrong with what I had on?

The door down the hall opened, and Lizzy skipped out of the room. I ducked into my room before she spotted me.

I rubbed the back of my neck, still feeling goosebumps. Why did Rory affect me like this?